Paint solvent recycle device

Abstract

A solvent recycle device for containing a volatile solvent with particulate material suspended therein having a density greater than such solvent and enabling the particulate material to gravationally separate from the solvent into a confined lower space isolated from an upper space from which clarified solvent is withdrawn from the device is described. Basically, the device includes an upper chamber with bottom sloping downwardly toward the rear, a lower chamber fixed beneath the upper, a first conduit at the rear connecting the two chambers for fluid flow between them, capped openings into the chambers and a second conduit external of the chambers connecting the top of the upper chamber to the back side of the lower chamber for fluid flow between them.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A solvent recycle device for containing a volatile solvent with particulate material suspended therein having a density greater than said solvent and enabling said particulate material to gravationally separate from said solvent into a confined space isolated from a space from which clarified solvent is withdrawn from said device which comprises: an upper chamber defined by a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall substantially parallel to said first side wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall descending at an angle from said front wall to said rear wall thereby creating in said bottom wall a raised forward end portion and a lowered rearward end portion,   a threaded first opening through said upper chamber top wall communicating with the interior of said upper chamber and a threaded cap closing said first opening,   a lower chamber defined by a top wall comprising a back end portion, a front wall, a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall substantially parallel to said first side wall and a bottom wall substantially parallel to said top wall,   a threaded second opening through said lower chamber front wall communicating with the interior of said lower chamber and a threaded cap closing said second opening,   a trapezoidal web member defined by an upper portion integrally joined to said bottom wall of said upper chamber, a lower portion integrally joined to said top wall of said lower chamber, a front edge and a rear edge shorter in length than said front edge, said web member fixing said upper chamber over said lower chamber,   a first tubular conduit positioned behind said rear edge of said web member defined by a top end and a bottom end, said top end communicating through said lowered rear end portion of said bottom wall with said upper chamber and said bottom end communicating through said back end portion of said top wall with said lower chamber, and   a second tubular conduit, defined by an upper junction end and a lower junction end, that extends rearward of said upper and lower chambers, said upper junction end communicating with said upper chamber through said top wall thereof and said lower junction end communicating with said lower chamber through said rear wall thereof.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said side walls of said upper chamber contain indentations to strengthen said walls. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein said side walls of said lower chamber contain indentations to strengthen said walls. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 having a spacer member defined by a front end and a rear end, said spacer member being positioned between said rear wall of said upper chamber and said second tubular conduit with said front end integral with said upper chamber rear wall and with said rear end integral with said second tubular conduit. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 4 wherein said second tubular conduit has a circular cross section. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 5 wherein said upper junction end of said second tubular conduit is flared outwardly beyond said cross section. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 5 wherein said lower junction end of said second tubular conduit is flared outwardly beyond said cross section. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 1 wherein said first tubular conduit has a quadrilateral cross section. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 8 wherein said rear edge of said web member is integral with said first tubular conduit. 
     
     
       10. A solvent recycle device for containing a volatile solvent with particulate material suspended therein having a density greater than said solvent and enabling said particulate material to gravationally separate from said solvent into a confined space isolated from a space from which clarified solvent is withdrawn from said device which comprises: an upper chamber defined by a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall substantially parallel to said first side wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall descending at an angle from said front wall to said rear wall thereby creating in said bottom wall a raised forward end portion and a lowered rearward end portion and said bottom wall having a V-shaped cross section.   a threaded first opening through said upper chamber top wall communicating with the interior of said upper chamber and a threaded cap closing said first opening,   a lower chamber defined by a top wall comprising a back end portion, a front wall, a rear wall substantially parallel to said front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall substantially parallel to said first side wall and a bottom wall substantially parallel to said top wall,   a threaded second opening through said lower chamber front wall communicating with the interior of said lower chamber and a threaded cap closing said second opening,   a trapezoidal web member defined by an upper portion integrally joined to said bottom wall of said upper chamber, a lower portion integrally joined to said top wall of said lower chamber, a front edge and a rear edge shorter in length than said front edge, said web member fixing said upper chamber over said lower chamber,   a first tubular conduit of quadrilateral cross section positioned behind said rear edge of said web member defined by a top end and a bottom end, said top end communicating through said lowered rear end portion of said bottom wall with said upper chamber and said bottom end communicating through said back end portion of said top wall with said lower chamber,   a second tubular conduit of circular cross section, defined by an upper junction end and a lower junction end, that extends rearward of said upper and lower chambers, said upper junction end communicating with said upper chamber through said top wall thereof and said lower junction end communicating with said lower chamber through said rear wall thereof, and   a spacer member defined by a front end and a rear end, said spacer member being positioned between said rear wall of said upper chamber and said second tubular conduit with said front end integral with said upper chamber rear wall and with said rear end integral with said second tubular conduit.